Spring 2010
Young Jesus Chronicles, a cartoon collection, now available as a book published by Andrews McMeel Publishing.
For the past 10 years, I've collaborated on a book of comics with my friend Spencer Smith called
Young Jesus Chronicles. It's a series of gently humorous (and slightly off-beat) cartoons imagining what Jesus might have been like as a kid. We self-published the book in December 2008 and a few months later it caught the interest of two major publishers. We signed with Andrews McMeel, home of Calvin & Hobbes, Far Side, and Dilbert books to name a few. Young Jesus Chronicles is now available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Amazon. You can visit the official site to preview the comics and order your copies.
The idea for the book came like this: Spencer and I grew up attending church, Catechism school, and CYO together. As adults we made cartoons whenever we hung out. I would draw and Spencer would think up funny captions. One night a conversation about religion made us realize how almost nothing is mentioned in the Bible about Jesus's childhood, and as our publisher describes:
...This incomplete picture gives Spencer Smith and Mark Penta ample room for their entertaining and highly imaginative cartoon book...a clever and lighthearted collection of cartoons that celebrates the joy of puns and wordplay as much as it rewards you for paying attention in Sunday Bible school.
While the cartoons I drew for the book are very different from the work I present here, I consider them one expression of my creativity, as I've always loved drawing all kinds of things - cartoons, caricatures, and realistic illustrations. And as someone who isn't very controversial, I'm pleased that the cartoons are being warmly received by devoutly religious folks, in the lighthearted spirit we intended. As one priest describes it, Young Jesus Chronicles is "always on the respectful side of reverence and good taste."
Click here to return to the Mark Penta.com homepage...or read on...
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Cape Cod Invasion!
I have purchased all rights and remaining inventory of my book Cape Cod Invasion! from my publisher.
This means that you can now order copies directly from me. I'm selling each book for $15 which includes shipping. Visit www.capecodinvasion.com to purchase yours via PayPal, or if you want to pay by check, cash, or money order, contact me at
508-572-2946.
(Also, with the arrival of two major movie studios coming to coastal Massachusetts, I would love to see Cape Cod Invasion! turned into a major motion picture, wouldn't you? I'm open to offers and options, so let's talk! 508-572-2946)
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